Ice handling apparatus



April 1940- M. s. JONES ICE HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 23, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

A 16, 1940. M; s. JoNE ICE HANDLING AP PARATUS Filed Nov; 23, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 efarzea INVEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

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April 16, 1940. M. s. JONES ICE HANDLING APPARATUS '4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 23, 1938 INVENTOR.

21. J. Jan/e8 ATTORNEYS.

April 16, 1940. M. s. JONES ICE HANDLING APFARATUS Filed Nov. 23, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 MA! (70396 INVENTOR- ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 16, 1940 umreo STATES PATENT I OFFICE 2,197,581 4 ICE HANDLING APPARATUS Marion S. Jones, Baltimore, Md. Application November 23, 1938, Serial No. 242,1ll1

10 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for use in the cans and these blocks subsequently have been set upon end inthe storage room. Because of the weight of the ice blocks it has been difficult to obtain the services of men capable of handling the blocks. Furthermore the blocks, when han- .dled, become scarred and chipped by the tongs used for shifting them.

An object of the present invention is to speed up the handling of ice blocks following their removal from the cans so that a group of several blocks, following their simultaneous release from the cans in which they were formed, can be conveyed simultaneously to a tilting means whereby the blocks will be raised simultaneously on end at points where they can be directed readily into the storage room without necessitating the excessively laborious work heretofore required on the part of the helpers, and without causing mutilation of the blocks.

A still further object is to provide motor-operated mechanism for effecting the foregoing operation, said mechanism after once being started by the attendant, operating to automatically convey and tilt the blocks and thereafter to reset preparatory to repeating the operation stated.

A still further object is to provide ice handling apparatus which can be installed readily in an ice manufacturing plant and which can be utilized, when desired, solely for the purpose of conveying the ice to a point of delivery withoutstanding the blocks on end, the desired change in operation being effected quickly by a readjustment of the parts.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings Figure l is an elevation of a portion of the apparatus, the adjacent building structure being shown partly in section and partly inelevation,

parts being broken away.

Figure l is anelevation of the remaining portion of the apparatus, the adjacent portionof. the building structure being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged section on line 3-3, Figure 1. r

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4, Figure 1*. Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 with someof the mechanism eliminated and showing the tiltable platform in its normal or lowered position. ,Figure 6 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the pushing element.

Figure '7 is a side elevation of the couphng slide,

a portion being broken away and that part of the pushing element with which it cooperates being shown in section.

Figure 8 is a central vertical section through theguide and slide of the tiltable platform controlling mechanism, said section being taken stantially on the line 8-'8, Figure 1 Figure 9 is a section on line 9-9, Figure 8.

Figure 10 is an enlarged section on line ilk-l0,

Fi e 8.

Figure 11 is a section' on line ll-l I, Figure 9.

Figure 12 is an enlarged section on line l2---l2,v

Figure 10. v v Figure 13 is anenlarged horizontal section through a portion of the pushing element and showing the means for adjustably connecting it to the transmission cables. 1

Figure 14 is a perspective view showing in diagram the essential working parts of the apparatus. p 3

Referring to the figures by characters of. reference W designates portions of the'wall of an ice manufacturing plant having a fioor'or runway R onto which a series of blocks of ice are to be delivered simultaneously fromthe .cans in which they have been produced, these cans being simultaneously hoisted and dumped in the usual manner. As the mechanism employ'ed'for this purpose constitutes no part of the present invention, it has not been deemed necessary to describe or show thesam'e.

At the delivery end of the runway B there is located a vertically sliding gate I pivotally connected to a slide 2 which is mounted *on one or more guide bars 3. A link 4 connects this slide to a lever 5 which is fulcrumed as shown at 6 and this lever is adapted to receive thrust through a link I from a bell-crank 8 pivotally mounted above the runway adjacent to its delivery end.'

One arm. of. the bell-crank 8 depends toward the runway R, as shown at 9 and constitutes a member adapted to be shifted by an advancing block sub- of ice so that before the block can reach the door I, said door will be raised by the mechanism disclosed, thereby allowing the ice to pass through the outlet of the runway. The door I is pivotally connected to slide 2 as indicated at H] so that should the door receive pressure prematurely from a piece of ice or any other object in advance of the blocks being thrust toward the outlet, the door will be free to swing open. Normally, however, the door is closed. This door is used for the purpose of preventing air from circulating through the outlet while not in use.

A pit I l is located at the outlet end of the runway and is adapted normally to be closed by a tiltable platform l2 fulcrumed as at 13 so as to swing about an axis extending longitudinally of the runway R. When this platform is in its normal or lowered position, its top surface, which is formed preferably of spaced slats I l, is substantially flush with the runway so that ice can slide from one to the other. form consists preferably of channel members 55 and those ends of, the members at the pivot side of the platform are provided with extensions It projecting at right angles to the members 65 and connected preferably by slats I! or the like. A laterally extending delivery platform I8 is located at one side of the top of pit H and when the platform I2 is swung to an upstanding or vertical position, the extension of the platform will assume a horizontal position with its top face substantially flush with .thecorresponding surface of the dehvery platform is. This has been illustrated in Figure 4. Normally, however, and as shown in Figure 5, the extension of the platform is entended upwardly or substantially vertically while the platform per se is substan' tially horizontal and flush with the runway R.

A segmental frame 89 is securedto the bottom of platform l2 preferably at the center thereof and has an arcuate channel 28 at its periphery in which are seated parallel oppositely extending cables 2| and 22 the end portions of which are extended toward each other through openings 23 in opposed ends of the segment and at" tached to adjusting bolts 24 mounted in an intermediate bar 25 of the segment. By means of these bolts the cables 2i and 22 can be made taut so as to insure proper operation of the platform as hereinafter explained.

Mounted within and extending upwardly from the pit II is a standard made up of opposed An elongated slide 29 is mounted between and within the channel members 26, this slide being formed preferably of a channel member in which is journalled a sheave 39 adapted to move therewith.

Thecabl'e 2! which extends through the lower end portion of segment I9 is extended upwardly along slide 29 into engagement with a spool 5i supported between brackets 32 carried by the upper portion of slide 29. From this spoolthe cable is extended downwardly and anchored to the slide asxindicated at 33. The other cable 22 which extends through the upper portion of the segment, leads downwardly under a spool 34 mounted between brackets 35 on the lower portion of the slide and from this spool thecable 33 is extended upwardly and anchored to the slide as indicated at 36. Obviously if the cables are The frame of the plat-' cross members 2'! which in turn support a pulley held taut by means of the bolts 24, the movement of the slide 29 in a downward direction will re sult in the transmission of motion to cable 22 to the upper end of segment H) with the result that the platform l2 will be swung downwardly to the position shown in Figure 5, this movement being restrained by the other cable 2i. When slide 29 is moved upwardly, the cable 21 will transmit motion to the segment and platform so as to swing said platformto an upstanding position as in Figures 1 and 4, movement of the platform during this operation being restrained by the other cable 22.

which it extends downwardly to a guide pulley 39. From this latter pulley the cable is extended over and longitudinally above the runway R to a latch-bar 40 having a depending head 4i. This latch-bar is slidable on and embraces a rail 32 which is supported by brackets :33 fixedly mounted above and overlying the runway. It is to be understood of course that suitably located guide sheaves M can be arranged for engagement by a cable 3'! as shown for example in Figures 2 and 14.

As shown in Figures 8, 10 and 1 1, slide 29 is provided with a ledge connected thereto by means of angle plates 46 which, in turn, are joined to the brackets 32. A transverse angle bar ii is extended across the standard 26 above the ledge 45 and is joined to a slide 48 mounted within standard 26. up and down sliding. movement relative to the standard but cannot become detached therefrom. To the ends of bar 4'! are attached depending rods 19 having weights 5!! at their lower ends. The parts are so proportioned that when platform I2 is in a horizontal position, as shown in Figure 5, the weights 50 are resting on the bottom of the pit H and their rods 59 Support the cross bar 4? slightly below the limit of theupward movement of ledge 45 with slide 21. Thus when platform l2 approaches the limit of its upward proaches the upward limit of its slidng movement, ledge 45 will come againstbar M and exert an upward thrust thereagainst tending to lift weights 5!! which thus serve to cushion or retardthe movement of the platform during the final portion of the ice transferring operation as hereinafter explained.

Supported by the brackets 43 are opposed channeled rails extending longitudinally of the runway and spaced apart so as to leave between them a slide 52 having a depending head 53 at one end which is suitably reenforced as by braces 54, these parts all cooperating to form a pushing element movable alongv but out of contact with therunway. A transverse strip .55 is secured to and moved with this pushing element and has bores 56 therein in which are seated the end portions of cables 5'! and 58, these cables being joined to tightening bolts 59 which'are adjustable in a plate 60 carried by one end of the strip 55. All of this is shown in Figure 13. Cable 5'! is extended in one direction from the pushing element while cable 53 is extended in the opposite direction. Cable '5'! extends around a guide sheave 6| adjacent to one end of the runway and thence through a drum B2 to which it is secured. The other cable 58 is extended in the oppositedirection from the pushing element into Thus this cross bar i7 has an engagement with a guide sheave 63 adjacent to the other end of the runway thence back to the drum $2 to which it is secured. These two cables are wound in opposite directions on the drum so that when the drum is rotated in one direction motion will be transmitted through oneof the cables to the pushing element whereas when the drum is rotated in the opposite direction, the pushing element will be moved in the opposite direction. While one cable isbeing Wound the other will be unwound as will be apparent.

Drum 62 is adapted to be driven through suitable speed reduction mechanism indicated generally at 64 by a reversible electric motor 65 which can be energized simply by throwing a switch whereupon the apparatus will be set in motion. That end of the runway remote from the outlet is provided with a switch 66 adapted to break the circuit to the motor when the pushing element moves into position adjacent thereto while another switch 51 is preferably located adjacent to the outlet for actuation by the pushing element when it approaches'the outlet, thereby to reverse the motor. The construction of switches for this purpose and the arrangement of circuits is so obvious that it is not deemed necessary to describe or show them.

A guide rail 68 is preferably extended along the wall at one side of the runway R, this rail being adapted to be contacted by cakes of ice I while travelling along the runway.

For the purpose of limiting the movement of the latch-bar or slide 40 in one direction along its rail 42, it is preferred to place a stop 69 on the rail in the path of the slide as shown in Figures '7 and 14.

When the pushing element is back in position at one end of the runway R, and as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the strip 55 is in engagement with the head 4| of slide 40 and holds said slide pressed backwardly so that cable 31 holds pulley 38 and slide 29 in elevated position with the platform l2 elevated as in Figures l and 4. At this time the push plate or ledge is in contact with and supporting bar 41 so that the weights are supported out of contact with the bottom of pit Ii. Platform extension I! is also flush with the delivery platform l8 so that any ice blocks which may have been supported on platform l2 and have been brought into position on end thereby, will be free to slide on end along platform It to the place of storage. In Figure 4 a block of ice has been indicated at I.

After a group of ice cans have been emptied 1 so that the ice blocks assume positions on the runway R. and in front of the pushing element, motor is started by the operator and motion thus is transmitted to drum 62 which rotates to pull through cable 58 on the pushing element, the cable 5'! in the meantime being paid out. As soon as the pushing element moves forwardly, thrusting ahead of it a series of ice blocks I, the head M on slide 40 will move therewith until it reaches stop 69. During this forward move- 7 ment of slide ill the cable 31 is paid out, thereby releasing slide 29 so that it can gravitate under the action of the weights 50 and thereafter under the weight of the platform l2 which, of course, will swing downwardly to a position flush with the runway R as shown in Figure 5.

Shortly after the platform has assumedthe position shown in Figure 5, the advancing blocks of ice will come against arm 9 and cause the door I to open upwardly after which the ice blocks will slide from runway R onto the lowered platform l2, these blocks following one after the other and assuming the positions shown at I in Figure 5.

When the pushing element reaches the limit of its advance movement, switch 61 is actuated to reverse the motor. Consequently the direction of rotation of drum 62 will be reversed so that cable 51 will then be actuated to pull the pushing device back toward its starting position, the other cable 58 in the meantime being paid out. As the pushing device approaches its initial position, the cross member 55 comes against head 4! and pulls slide 40 therewith so that cable 31 thus is actuated to pull slide 29 upwardly, thereby tilting the platform l2 so that the weight of the blocks of ice is transferred from said platform E2 to the platform extension l1. As the blocks of ice reach their upstanding position, the platform I2 is prevented from imparting an abrupt thrust against the blocks which might throw them oif center when the weight of the blocks is transferred to the extension IT. This abrupt thrust is overcome because the push plate or ledge 45, during the latter portion of the upward movement of the slide, contacts with and thrusts upwardly against the beam or bar 4! so that the Weight of the ice blocks when transferred to the platform extension I! is thus transferred to the weights 5!! which will counterbalance the ice. Consequently there is'no danger of the ice blocks, when brought to upstanding positions, being pushed past said positions and falling over on the delivery platform l8.

As soon as the pushing element reaches its initial position following the tilting of the ice blocks as explained, it actuates the switch 66 so as to stop the motor. Consequently further operation of the apparatus will cease until another group of ice blocks have been placed in the path of the pushing element and the motor again energized.

Obviously the gate I will close automatically as soon as the ice blocks have passed through the outlet of the runway and the pushing element has been retracted from under the arm 9.

By providing apparatus such as herein described a number of blocks of ice can be handled simultaneously and the workmen are not required to perform the heavy labor heretofore necessary in order to stand the blocks of ice on end and to drag them from one point to another. Instead several blocks can be dumped simultaneously into the path of the pushing element, thrust by said element onto the platform, after which said platform will operate automatically to tilt the blocks so that they will stand on end at the platform l8 along which they can be quickly drawn to the point where they are to be stored.

If desired the latch member 40 can be disengaged from the cross strip 55 so that it will not be actuated by the pushing element when the same moves away from the platform. Consequently the ice, after being deposited on the platform, can subsequently be pushed thereover onto another platform directly opposite the runway R. as indicated at P in Figure 1 Obviously the platform [2 would not be tilted should the parts be uncoupled in this manner.

While this apparatus has been shown and described for use in handling at one time several blocks of ice, it is to be understood that it can also be used for handling a single block at a time. In other words the apparatus can be made of a one-block capacity or of a greater capacity as preferred.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a runway and a tiltable platform at one end thereof and alined therewith, said platform being mounted for tilting about an axis extending longitudinally of the platform, of a pushing element movable in one direction for thrusting objects in the path thereof along the runway and onto the platform, and means operated by the pushing element when moved in the opposite direction for tilting the platform and the objects supported thereon and means extending from the platform and parallel with its axis of movement, for receiving the Weight of the load on the platform when tilted in one direction and to support said weight beyond one side of the platform.

2. The combination with a runway and a tiltable platform at one end thereof and alined therewith said platform being mounted to tilt about a pivot extending longitudinally of the runway, of a pushing element movable in one direction along the runway for thrusting an object in prone position along the runway and onto the platform, means operated by the push- ;ing element when moved in the opposite direction,

for swinging the platform and the load thereon from load-receiving position to move the load to an upstanding position, and means extending from one side of the platform for receiving the iweight of the load when the platform is tilted upwardly and for supporting the load in position for delivery laterally from the platform in an upstanding position without changing the elevation of the load.

3. The combination with a runway and a platform normally alined therewith, of a pushing element positioned to thrust an object in a prone position along the runway and onto the platform, means operated by the pushing element when moved in the opposite direction, for tilting the platform to place the object thereon in an upstanding position, and means carried by the platform for moving into line with, the runway when the platform is raised to one limit of its movement, thereby to receive the weight of the object when in an upstanding position, a counterbalancing means, and means coup-led to and movable simultaneously with the platform for counterbalancing the weight of the said object when transferred to an upstanding position.

4. The combination with a titltable platform, counterbalancing means, and means for transmitting motion from the platform to the counterbalancing means while approaching one limit of .its tilting movement of a runway leading to the platform, a pushing element for thrusting an object in a prone position along the runway and onto the platform, means operated by said element when moving in the opposite direction for tilting the platform and the prone object thereon thereby to move said object to an upstanding position, and means on the platform for receiv ing the weight of the object during the latter portion of its movement to upstanding position and while the counterbalancing means is operatively connected to the platform.

5. Ice handling apparatus including a runway, a platform at one end thereof and mounted for tilting at one end of the platform, a pushing element above the runway, a motor-operated mechanism for moving the pushing element toward and from the platform, means operated by the pushing element when moved away from the platform for tilting said platform, and means carried by the platform and movable into line with the runway when the platform is tilted to one extreme position, thereby to receive the weight of the load when the platform is tilted.

6. Ice handling apparatus including a runway, a tiltable platform at one end thereof, a pushing element above the runway, a motor-operated mechanism for moving the pushing element toward and from the platform, means operated by the pushing element when moved away from the platform for tilting said platform, means carried by the platform for receiving the weight of the load thereon when the platform is tilted, and means for counterbalancing the weight of the load when the platform is in full tilted position, said means including a weight, a slide operatively connected to the platform for movement simultaneously therewith, and means for transferring motion from the slide to the weight when the tilting platform reaches a predetermined position.

7. Ice handling apparatus including a runway, a pushing element movable longitudinally of and above the runway, a slide adjacent to the pushing element, a tiltable platform at one end of the runway, an operative connection between said slide and the platform, said pushing element constituting means, when moved in one direction, for thrusting ice onto the platform, and cooperating means on the slide and pushing element for moving the slide with the pushing element when moved away from the platform, thereby to tilt the platform, means extending from the platform for receiving the weight of the load thereon when the platform is tilted upwardly past a predetermined angle, and means for counterbalancing the weight of the load when the platform moves upwardly past the predetermined point.

8. Ice handling apparatus including a tiltable platform, means for directing ice blocks thereonto while in prone positions, a segment depending from the platform, a slide, separate flexible connections between the segment and the slide, said connections being extended in opposite directions along the periphery of the segment and anchored tothe slide, means for moving the slide in one direction to transmit motion through the segment to the platform and swing the platform upwardly, thereby to elevate the ice blocks to standing positions, means carried by the platform for receiving the weight of the standing blocks when the platform moves upwardly past a predetermined point and for supporting said blocks in upstanding position following the upward movement of the platform.

9. Ice handling apparatus including a tiltable platform, means for directing ice blocks thereonto while in prone positions, a segment depending from the platform, a slide, separate flexible connections between the segment and the slide, said connections being extended in opposite directions along the periphery of the segment and anchored to the slide, means for moving the slide in one direction to transmit motion through the segment to the platform and swing the platform upwardly, thereby to elevate the ice blocks to standing positions, means carried by the platform for receiving the weight of the standing blocks when the platform moves upwardly past a predetermined point and for supporting said blocks in upstanding position following the upward movement of the platform, counterbalancing means, and means for coupling the slide to the counterbalancing means after the platform moves past said predetermined point during the elevation of the blocks thereby to relieve the upstanding blocks from thrust by the platform.

10. Ice handling apparatus including a tiltable platform, means for directing ice blocks thereonto while in prone positions, a segment de pending from the platform, a slide, separate flexible connections between the segment and the slide, said connections being extended in opposite directions along the periphery of the segment and anchored to the slide, means for moving the slide in one direction to transmit motion through the segment to the platform and swing the plat form upwardly, thereby to elevate the ice blocks to standing positions, means carried by the platform for receiving the weight of the standing blocks when the platform moves upwardly past a predetermined point and for supporting said blocks in upstanding position following the upward movement of the platform, a cross bar, counterbalancing means supporting the cross bar and positioned to resist upward movement of said bar, and means carried by the slide for engaging and lifting the cross bar against the ac- MARION S. JONES. 

